Warning of major flooding in Buzi and Pungue valleys – Mozambique

8:25 CAT | 18 Mar 2019

People on house roofs in Buzi. Photo: INGC

The Mozambican authorities have warned that flooding is imminent in the Buzi and Pungue River basins in the central provinces due to persistent heavy rainfall upstream following cyclone Idai, which hit Sofala and Manica provinces on Thursday.

The National Meteorology Institute (INAM) has warned that the rains may affect all the districts of Sofala and Manica plus much of the western province of Tete and parts of the southern provinces of Inhambane and Gaza.

Urgent assistance is required to evacuate the thousands trapped by rising waters in Buzi District. Beira and its surrounds also affected. Food and water aid is being dropped by a limited number of helicopters to those that are visible. #MozSARescue#MozambiqueFloodspic.twitter.com/HyKJrP81Io

“INAM forecasts continued strong to very strong persistent rainfall (more than 150 millimetres in 24 hours), winds with strong gusts of up to 60 kilometres an hour and severe thunderstorms which may continue until next Thursday, 21 March,” INAM warned.

The National Directorate of Water Resources is recommending the immediate withdrawal of people from flood-prone areas urging them to seek higher ground. They are also warned to avoid any attempt to cross rivers.

The Directorate says that the heavy rains upstream may force the Chicamba Dam on the Revue River to increase its discharges to 5,000 cubic metres of water a second in order to safeguard the integrity and security of the dam. This could worsen flooding downstream, in the Sofala districts of Buzi, Nhamatanda, Dondo, Muanza and Chibabava.

Mozambique:

•The death toll from #CycloneIdai landfall has reportedly risen to at least 48.

•Authorities have issued a Red Alert for flooding along the River Buzi, with a high risk of floods in Buzi and Pungoé.

Interviewed by Radio Mocambique on the forecast for the next 72 hours, Agostinho Vilanculos, spokesperson for the Directorate, said: “The hydrological situation in the centre of the country, particularly in the Buzi and Pungue basins is extremely bad.”

This is because of heavy rains not only in Mozambique but also in neighbouring Zimbabwe. In the space of 24 hours, about 600 millimetres of rain fell on eastern Zimbabwe which is what would normally be expected in 3 months. This water is now flowing into Mozambique.

Vilanculos said that, if the Chicamba Dam is forced to open its floodgates, this will cause major flooding in Buzi and Chibabava districts.

Paulo Tomas, the spokesperson for the country’s relief agency, the National Disasters Management Institute (INGC), told reporters it is still too early to make any estimate of the cyclone damage. The latest information he had on the death toll was that 68 people in Sofala had lost their lives, 55 in Beira and 13 in the neighbouring district of Dondo.

He said that 28 accommodation centres have been set up for flood victims, 18 in Beira and 10 in Dondo.

This is a current aerial picture taken by #MozSARescue team while flying over the Buzi district. Thousands are clinging to trees or trying to stay afloat by climbing onto roofs. Hundreds are feared dead. pic.twitter.com/7fyusJhNRL